January 30, 2019
Hotheaded Mars has been in Aries since the start of 2019 — and since this in-your-face constellation is the Red Planet’s home sign, he’s even fiercer and more aggressive than usual. In some ways this can be healthy, helping to burn clearings into paths that have been blocked. It literally lights a fire under us and pushes us to move, lest we are consumed by the anxiety and sadness that forced stillness can engender. Pluto’s long and grueling journey through Capricorn started in 2008, igniting the financial crisis, then Occupy Wall Street, and unearthing the vile racist underbelly of the United States — one that had been hiding in plain sight all along.
If you have planets in early to middle Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra, you already know what it means to be ground into dust by Pluto and reborn with a new and stronger cellular structure — but our society is just getting the memo. Since our beautiful brand new Congress, led by progressive women of color, began on January 3rd, we’ve been moving toward the crucible that will perfect this Friday: Mars and Pluto come into an exact square, unleashing fiery daggers into the air. These are the themes we’ll face head-on in the next two years, as we come closer to the first American Pluto Return in our history in 2024. Yes, this is a wholesale transformation and remaking of American society, in which women, descendants of African slaves, indigenous people and the working class will make the new rules. This is just beginning, but the eruptions we see now are extremely significant and they should not be minimized. Yes, we have the chance now to save the earth from Climate Change by ending the worst abuses of capitalism — and it’s up to US.
The themes have been made clear in recent weeks: from Nathan Phillips versus the Covington MAGA boys to all the billionaires versus Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez to Trump versus Pelosi and Trump versus Stacey Abrams next week, we are beginning to fight the battles that will tell the story of how we, the people, get to remake the country, and thus the world. All the talk of We must start right here in our own lives, first recognizing where Pluto is already transforming us (which is also where Saturn and Jupiter will be in 2020).
Friday’s Mars square Pluto trigger is already causing spasms of anger, accidents, outbursts, and if emotions, fears, and insecurities are held in or hidden, the outcomes can be even worse. Make sure you have gentle physical outlets to absorb the shock and if you’re furious with someone, especially if it’s a long-simmering resentment, write down your feelings and considering waiting until after the square has passed to hit send. Notice what’s been coming up for you in recent weeks and see if the themes resonate with where Pluto is transiting your chart. This doesn’t have to be painful — it only hurts if you resist. So lean into it – BE the resistance to everything that is toxic and broken and cruel and unfair within and without.
With Mars versus Pluto, you must wear protective gear and you must know what you’re in for, the strength and size of your opponent and your own best left hook. But you can’t sit this one out – you must be in the ring. Let what is unconscious become conscious and don’t be afraid. It’s coming no matter what, so be strong and be ready.
